Nova Merck creates special division for Brazil and China
DCI
MSD, a company resulting from the merger of the pharmaceutical companies Merck & Co. Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation, went into operation yesterday with the announcement of the insertion of Brazil in the Emerging Markets Division, along with China and India. According to João Sanches, Officer of Corporate Affairs of MSD, Brazil leaves the Latin America Division to step up into "a higher level". "More than half the growth of the company comes from the emerging markets", he affirms. "For Brazil, it means receiving a greater volume of investments".
The Executive, however, declared that the volume of investments is yet to be defined, but it will meet the goal ofreaching the leadership in the Brazilian market within five years. MSD will take advantage of the portfolio of products of both the companies, since there is little overlapping, according to Sanches. "It is scheduled the launching of 15 new products for several segments, such as hepatitis, cancer, HIV, cardiovascular, among other segments", he said.
The Officer of Corporate Affairs also said that after the evaluation of the global chain the company should decide on the measures to reach the US$ 3.5 billion goal of reduction of costs worldwide. "It is still early to determine where the cuts in costs will be made", he affirmed, emphasizing that the units and employees, in Brazil, are maintained.
The office of the CEO of MSD Brasil will be held by Tadeu Alves, who operated as the President of Merck Sharp & Dohme for Latin America. "We have an aggressive growth strategy that includes alliances with local companies and public-private partnerships", said Alves, in an announcement.